Fishing reports
19273 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Great Lakes Smallmouth and Weedline Bass Prime Up for Mid-June
Tactical Bassin documented Great Lakes smallmouth bass responding aggressively to swimbait presentations on windy open-water days, with a Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad combo producing big bags that included trophy fish. Fishing the Midwest confirms the 2026 open water season is in full swing for the region, spotlighting weedlines as the key structural element for targeting bass and walleye as early-summer patterns consolidate. On the river side, Fishing the Midwest highlights that larger rivers deliver reliable multi-species summer action along current seams and channel edges. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data came through for this report cycle, so specific water temperatures remain unconfirmed. The new moon on June 15 opens favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk across both Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. IL/IN Sea Grant maintains three nearshore Lake Michigan buoys that track real-time conditions; anglers heading to big water on windy days should check current readings before launching.
Summer Chinook beginning their June push on Olympic Peninsula rivers
No live buoy readings or river gauge data were captured for the Olympic Peninsula salmon drainages this report window, and no local charter, shop, or forum reports specific to this region appeared in this week's feeds. WA WDFW Fishing Reports indicates the department gathers creel data by interviewing anglers at access sites statewide, but no current catch summaries were available to synthesize here. Drawing on typical mid-June patterns, summer Chinook are the primary freshwater target across Olympic Peninsula river systems right now, with fish beginning to stage near tidewater and push upriver. The new moon today can coincide with increased fish movement, making the next several days a reasonable window to target deep holding lies and river seams. Olympic Peninsula rivers frequently run elevated and off-color from late snowmelt through mid-June, so clarity and flow are the variables to pin down before loading the truck. Check current WDFW creel reports and USGS gauge readings before heading out.
Big Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel Rolling Through Outer Banks Surf
Tom of Hatteras Jack at Hatteras/Ocracoke reports the surf action has come alive with large bluefish — fish pushing to 30 inches and beyond are hitting casting metals and cut baits along the beach, per Fisherman's Post (NC). Sea mullet have been running steady in the same surf zone, adding a reliable second target for pier and wade anglers. Along the broader NC coast, spanish mackerel are moving into nearshore areas in good numbers; Fisherman's Post (NC) reports from Swansboro to Wrightsville Beach describe mackerel working along the beachfront for anglers pulling spoons, with the bluefish bite described as "really good" across the region as well. Inshore, red drum are scattered but deeper structural holes are holding fish. The New Moon today brings the strongest tidal current of the lunar cycle — plan surf and inlet sessions around moving water for best results. No NOAA buoy data was available this cycle; conditions are based on recent regional angler intel.
Hawaiian Blue Water Heats Up for Pelagics as New Moon Opens June
The new moon arrived June 15, opening one of the stronger tide windows of the month for Hawaiian Islands anglers targeting pelagics and nearshore species alike. Hawaii Fishing News, which tracks the state's moon and tide calendar as a reference for serious island fishers, highlights June as a key month when offshore grounds typically fire on blue marlin and yellowfin tuna. No live buoy readings or charter intel from the islands are available in this report cycle, so specific sea surface temperatures and current bite windows cannot be confirmed. Mid-June historically places Hawaiian waters in the mid-to-upper 70s Fahrenheit, conditions that keep mahi-mahi, ono, and ahi active in the blue water. Nearshore, the new moon phase is a known productivity driver for ulua and papio hunters working rocky structure and drop-offs after dark. Check with local captains for real-time positioning before committing to a run.
Gulf of Alaska Prime-Season Window Opens for Halibut and King Salmon
Alaska Sea Grant's latest dispatch — covering new statewide research awards and a mariculture fellowship spotlight — contains no fishing-conditions reporting for the Gulf of Alaska this cycle, and no buoy data, charter intel, or shop reports were captured from the region. This update relies on typical mid-June patterns for the area. Historically, mid-June marks the heart of the Gulf of Alaska's most productive marine fishing season: king (Chinook) salmon are typically well into their summer inshore push, Pacific halibut are in peak feeding mode on sandy and mixed-bottom structure, and sockeye runs are building toward their July climax. The New Moon this week drives strong tidal exchanges that traditionally concentrate baitfish and sharpen bite windows around current transitions. No water temperature readings were available. Anglers should verify current run status and any emergency closures through official Alaska sources before heading out, as conditions in this dynamic marine environment can shift quickly.
Wisconsin Northwoods awakens: muskies hot, walleye windows open
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop in Minocqua reports the Northwoods is fully alive heading into mid-June, with crappies and panfish biting excellent in the shallows and muskies charging hard through their first post-spawn feed of the season. Air temperatures have pushed into the 80s and water temps have climbed into the 60-degree zone, per the shop, triggering activity across nearly every species. Direct walleye-specific reports are thin in this cycle, but the conditions are textbook for a classic early-summer transition: fish moving off spawning flats toward rocky points, sand-gravel transitions, and the outer edges of forming weedlines. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this report period. The new moon on June 15 shortens overnight light and concentrates walleye feeding into the prime dusk and dawn windows. Jig-and-minnow rigs and worm harnesses worked along depth transitions are the standard early-summer walleye play for this region.
Kenai kings winding down; interior grayling hitting prime summer form
Mid-June on the Kenai River typically marks the close of the early king salmon run, with the late-run push still six-plus weeks away — a shoulder period that historically favors rainbow trout and Dolly Varden on the upper river. No current angler-intel reports or USGS gauge readings were available for this update; what follows reflects seasonal norms for this region rather than live testimony from the water. Interior drainages are generally at or near summer-peak conditions by the third week of June, making this an ideal window for Arctic grayling on dry flies and shallow nymphs in riffled tailouts. Tonight's new moon suppresses ambient light during the region's brief overnight window — a timing edge for larger fish in clear-water systems. Sockeye have not yet entered the Kenai system in significant numbers; anglers targeting reds should plan for late June through early July, depending on run strength. Confirm current state regulations before fishing kings.
Salmon Trolling and Smallmouth Action Peak Along Indiana's Lake Michigan Shore
With no current buoy or gauge data available for the Indiana shoreline, conditions must be read from regional context. The WI DNR Lake Michigan Fishing Report documented a banner 2024 salmon season across the lake — record coho returns topping 210,000 fish and over 160,000 Chinook, the most since 2012 — reflecting the lake's stocking-driven productivity heading into the 2026 season. Mid-June typically sees trolling fleets working offshore for Chinook and coho, while nearshore anglers target smallmouth bass along Indiana's rocky breakwaters and pier ends. Tactical Bassin reports Great Lakes smallmouth responding well to swimbait presentations, citing the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad as productive options on windy days — conditions common on the southern basin this time of year. Yellow perch remain a reliable nearshore target. Today's New Moon phase can concentrate feeding activity, making dawn and dusk windows especially productive for both offshore and nearshore species. No live water temperature data is available; check local conditions before launching.
Lake Superior whitefish on the rise; UP trout streams enter Hex season window
WI DNR Lake Superior Fishing noted earlier this season that lake whitefish have drawn a surge in angler interest across Chequamegon Bay, with both ice and open-water participation growing — a signal that the Lake Superior whitefish fishery, including Michigan's UP shore, is healthy and drawing broader attention. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are available for this cycle, so precise water temperatures are unknown. That said, mid-June is a landmark window for UP trout stream anglers: the Hexagenia limbata mayfly hatch — among the most anticipated events in American freshwater fishing — typically begins firing on UP rivers in the third and fourth weeks of June. Big brown trout move to evening surface feeds as water temperatures climb into optimal range. Tactical Bassin also logs Great Lakes smallmouth responding to swimbaits in windy conditions — a pattern applicable to Superior's rocky shoreline and tributary mouths. Tonight's new moon sets up low-light feeding windows across the region.
Lake Murray bass keying on herring as SC summer bite heats up
A recent MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American at Lake Murray ended with Jack Story targeting herring-feeding bass on points with a Zoom Fluke. Per MLF News, Story also picked up fry guarders still holding on secondary structure, confirming the summer offshore transition is fully underway on this premier Midlands bass lake. New Moon this weekend concentrates dawn and dusk feeding windows, with bass and stripers likely pushing bait tight to points and channel ledges. Away from Murray, South Carolina's freshwater season has already produced a historic highlight: Wired 2 Fish and Field & Stream both documented a 113.7-pound flathead catfish pulled from a 40-foot back-eddy on the Pee Dee River, smashing the state record by nearly 30 pounds and signaling that summer catfish action is peaking on SC's river systems. No real-time gauge or buoy data is available for this window; verify current lake levels with local launch ramps before heading out.
PA Rivers Prime Up for Smallmouth, Catfish, and Walleye as Early Summer Arrives
PA Sea Grant is spotlighting harmful algal blooms as a growing hazard on Pennsylvania waterways this summer, with a free public webinar scheduled for June 25 — a timely heads-up for waders on the Susquehanna and Allegheny as water temperatures climb. No gauge or buoy data is available in this report cycle; check the PA Fish & Boat Commission's biologist reports page directly for current flow readings before heading out. That said, mid-June marks the transition into prime river fishing across both systems. Smallmouth bass typically settle into their summer rhythm on current breaks and rocky runs by now, while channel and flathead catfish grow increasingly active as nighttime temperatures rise. Bob Jensen at Fishing the Midwest notes that rivers frequently outperform lakes through summer, with current seams and weed edges concentrating fish. Walleye remain a consistent target in deeper river pools, especially during low-light windows around this week's new moon.
New Moon Moves Stripers Toward Summer Patterns at Chesapeake Mouth
Per On The Water's June 12 striper migration map, striped bass remain widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with the new moon and enlarged tidal swings expected to push bass and bait toward their summer haunts in the coming days. At the Chesapeake mouth, that signals a transition: the peak spring concentration is thinning as some fish move northward while others drop to deeper summer structure. Separately, On The Water reports that researchers from William & Mary's Batten School and VIMS are actively electrofishing Chesapeake Bay tributaries, including the Rappahannock River, to track striped bass distribution through this transition window. No environmental sensor data is available for this report cycle; local conditions should be confirmed before launching. Blue crab, flounder, and red drum are entering their typical mid-June window based on seasonal patterns for the lower bay. Verify current Virginia striper size and bag limits before heading out.
Savannah yields river-record bluegill as Georgia lakes deliver strong bass bags
A 1-lb., 10.1-oz. bluegill pulled from the Savannah River on June 6 set a new river record, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News — Seth Seckinger of Springfield landed it on a white Beetle Spin tipped with a cricket, certified at Richmond Fish Hatchery. That record signals panfish are in peak early-summer form across Georgia's freshwater systems. Lake Hartwell backed it up this past weekend: after a stretch of heavy rain, clearing skies drew 93 teams to the Skeeter Bass Challenge, where the winning bag reached 23 lbs. 8 oz. with a 5-lb., 12-oz. kicker. The Georgia Wildlife Blog notes the full open-water season is in swing, with Bass Slam and Trout Slam challenges drawing anglers statewide. Captain Travis Harper has been putting clients on trout in the upper river systems, per the June 13 Southern Waters Fishing Report in GA Sportsman. River levels are falling across Georgia gauges post-rain, with the Savannah at Clyo steady at 3.9 feet as of June 11.
Stripers and Squid Running Hot as Narragansett Bay Hits Peak June Form
Saltwater Edge (RI) is calling both the striper and squid bite "fantastic" heading into this week's new moon, with cool water temperatures showing no signs of warming quickly enough to slow either down. Per the Saltwater Edge June new moon forecast, that thermal pattern may hold for another couple of weeks, giving anglers targeting both species in Narragansett Bay a long productive window. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map places bass spread widely from New Jersey to Maine, and notes that the new moon coupled with building tidal swings should continue pushing fish and bait toward summer feeding zones. Saltwater Edge notes that the second half of June is typically when Rhode Island's full suite of options comes online, and by local accounts, conditions are tracking to deliver. Squid action has been particularly strong, though it will taper as water temperatures eventually climb through the summer.
Hartwell bass bite is on as Savannah chain enters summer pattern
A 93-team Skeeter Bass Challenge at Lake Hartwell produced a winning five-fish limit of 23 pounds, 8 ounces — anchored by a 5-pound, 12-ounce kicker — confirming largemouth are actively feeding as the Savannah chain moves into early summer, per GA Sportsman/Georgia Outdoor News. A break from recent Georgia rains cleared skies and settled water conditions ahead of the tournament weekend. Joshua Barber's June 13 Southern Waters report (GA Sportsman) pegs the Savannah River at Clyo running 3.9 feet and steady, with lakes and ponds now generating the strongest fishing reports of the week. Panfish are also producing across the drainage: a new Savannah River record bluegill — 1 pound, 10.1 ounces — fell June 6 to a white Beetle Spin tipped with a cricket. With the new moon today, topwater windows are narrowed to first-light and final-hour sessions before the sun drives fish off the shallows.
Georgia Highland Reservoirs Firing as Spotted Bass Key on Herring in Mid-June
GA Sportsman's Joshua Barber put out a June 13 Southern Waters report noting that 'lakes and ponds have produced some of the best reports' of the past week across Georgia, a trend consistent with what mid-June typically delivers on Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona. No direct buoy or gauge readings are available for either reservoir this cycle, but the sharpest Lanier-specific intel comes from MLF News: Jack Story's Phoenix BFL All-American championship at Lake Murray was won on 'herring eater' techniques on offshore points, skills he credited to patterns honed at Lake Lanier. The Georgia Wildlife Blog confirmed June 13 as a Free Fishing Day statewide, drawing added pressure to both lakes during National Fishing and Boating Week. With today's new moon, first-light and dusk feeding windows tend to sharpen. Spotted bass and striped bass suspended over main-lake humps following shad and herring schools represent the primary target on both reservoirs.
Sea Bass Red Hot as Mako Sharks and Bluefin Arrive on the Jersey Shore
Blue Chip Sportfishing is reporting sea bass fishing "red hot," with charters limiting out on nearly every trip as mid-June arrives. Water temperatures along Long Beach Island have climbed into the low-to-mid 60s, per Fishermans HQ LBI, signaling the spring-to-summer transition in earnest. In the surf, striped bass continue to respond to clam baits up and down the beaches, with OTW Northern New Jersey noting the bite stays consistent heading into the new-moon tidal window. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports bluefin tuna have moved in hot on the heels of a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast, reachable on 20- to 30-mile runs. Blue Chip Sportfishing also reports shark fishing has "busted wide open," with multiple mako sharks caught and released in recent trips, including three makos on a single Friday outing. Fluke are steadily improving in bay and inlet waters, and Grumpys Tackle notes a larger class of striped bass has moved into the surf alongside bluefish and black drum.
Stripers Running Strong at Sandy Hook as Spring Pushes Into Summer
The June 15 new moon arrives alongside a productive stretch for Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook anglers. Per OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report, striped bass are actively taking clams in the surf, sea bass fishing is steady on the reefs, and fluke action is slowly building as water temperatures warm. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands, fishing the bay directly, reports an inconsistent sea bass picture: fish are present but gorged on tiny sand eels and reluctant to commit, though deeper-water runs have produced steady ling action alongside scattered bass. Blue Chip Sportfishing offers a more bullish read, reporting limits on sea bass on most trips. Grumpys Tackle confirms a larger class of stripers has moved into the surf, with clams and bunker the top producers. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map notes the run remains widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides expected to push fish and bait toward summer haunts this week.
Post-spawn smallmouth peak across the Finger Lakes as summer sets in
Tactical Bassin logged Great Lakes smallmouth in strong mid-June form this week, reporting quality fish on swimbait presentations in rough, windy conditions — a pattern with direct carryover to the exposed rocky points and shoals of Seneca and Cayuga. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are available for the Finger Lakes this cycle, and none of this week's angler-intel feeds filed a region-specific report. Based on seasonal norms, mid-June typically finds Finger Lakes smallmouth bass at peak post-spawn activity, covering rocky structure aggressively and responding to both power and finesse presentations. Lake trout are the counterbalance: as surface temperatures press into the mid-60s°F range, they retreat from spring shallows toward the thermocline. Fishing the Midwest notes that weedline edges are productive for multiple freshwater species right now, a tip equally applicable to Cayuga's eastern shelf drop-offs and Skaneateles's steep rocky margins. Yellow perch remain a reliable deepwater option across the basin. New Moon tonight tends to concentrate feeding toward dawn and dusk windows.
Delaware Bay New Moon Tides Activate Black Drum, Stripers, and Blues
With water temperatures climbing into the low-to-mid 60s along coastal New Jersey (Fishermans HQ LBI, June 14), Delaware Bay is in a productive late-spring to early-summer transition. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) captured the current mix in their "Drum, Bass, Blues" roundup, with black drum still running alongside striped bass and bluefish — the bay's classic late-spring trio. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 4 report confirmed black drum, stripers, and fluke all chewing in the surf, and their June 11 update noted stripers consistently taking clams along the beaches. Surf fishing with clams has been the dominant approach, per Grumpys Tackle. Today's new moon sets up the strongest tidal exchanges of the cycle — On The Water's June 12 striper migration map notes new moon tides are moving bass and bait toward summer haunts along the entire NJ corridor. Fluke are improving slowly as water temperatures rise, per OTW Northern New Jersey, with bucktails and Gulp! among the working rigs.
Spanish mackerel and sheepshead arrive as Charleston Harbor enters summer
Fisherman's Post (Carolinas saltwater) is reporting Spanish mackerel 'moving in good numbers into nearshore areas and along the beachfront' up the Carolinas coast, a signal that mirrors the June push arriving in Charleston Harbor. The bluefish bite is also rated 'really good' from Swansboro to Carolina Beach. Inshore, red drum have scattered off the flats and are holding in deeper holes around structure, while a fresh push of smaller sheepshead has begun staging on hard bottom — classic early-summer behavior expected through Charleston's tidal rivers and piling-heavy waterways. No NOAA buoy readings were available this update, leaving water temperature unconfirmed; mid-June historically puts Charleston Harbor in the upper 70s to low 80s°F. With a New Moon today, spring tides are driving strong current through the harbor's channels — a productive window for targeting bait-flushing rips and tidal current seams with jigs or live shrimp.
Stripers and Squid Running Hot Across Buzzards Bay on the New Moon
Squid are swarming coastal Massachusetts waters right now — On The Water reported last week that the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown captured video of squid chasing baitfish and beaching themselves on Cape Cod, a sign of the dense bait concentrations pulling gamefish inshore. That squid presence is keeping striped bass in predictable feeding lanes across the region. OTW Saltwater's June 12 migration map shows stripers running widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with today's new moon and the big tidal swings it generates expected to push bass toward summer holding areas around Falmouth — a town On The Water specifically calls out as bordering Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound. From adjacent Rhode Island waters, Saltwater Edge's June new moon forecast describes striper and squid fishing as 'fantastic,' with cooler-than-average water temperatures extending the productive window into the second half of June. Shore-based shark regulations are in full effect in Massachusetts, per OTW Surfcasting, with great whites already confirmed near Nantucket.
Gulf Rigs Producing Amberjack as Louisiana Adjusts Grouper Calendar
Louisiana anglers are navigating a significant regulatory update this week: the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued an emergency declaration pushing the state's gag grouper season to a September 1–October 1 window, per Louisiana Sportsman (June 9). With grouper off the offshore menu for now, rig fishermen are pivoting to other targets. Sport Fishing Mag highlights Gulf amberjack as reliable rig-side targets through summer, noting they'll aggressively hammer topwater plugs worked briskly over deep-water wrecks. Inshore, the Louisiana Delta marsh system is classically productive for redfish this time of year, with grass edges, oyster bars, and tidal creek mouths holding fish as summer heat climbs. No NOAA buoy data was available for this update; conditions are based on seasonal patterns and regional intel. Today's New Moon sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk.
Summer bass patterns lock in across Tennessee and Cumberland impoundments
A Bassmaster Open on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley — twin pillars of the Tennessee River system — recently confirmed largemouth and smallmouth bass are actively feeding as summer patterns take hold, per B.A.S.S. News. Anglers found quality fish on these TVA-managed waters, suggesting post-spawn recovery is largely complete and bass have pushed to offshore structure, main-lake points, and deeper ambush zones. Tactical Bassin recommends crankbaits and swing-head jigs for this summer transition, noting fish are positioned from shallow to deep depending on time of day. Today's new moon marks a low-light period that typically tightens morning and evening feeding windows — plan first and last light accordingly. No USGS gauge data was available for this report. Field & Stream's current water temperature guide for trout is a timely reminder that TVA tailwaters remain the best cool-water refuge as summer heat builds across the region.